We rented with Mark Gamba from A n S for 2 years. We found them prompt with concerns and reasonable in their requests. Specifically Mark always returned my messages within a day or two and addressed our issues quickly. They did not push to raise our rent when the lease turned over and all advertisements about the property were accurate. I would recommend their management company to anyone.
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Abbolone & Scullin Realty does BAD business. I looked at a house in South Philly with realtor Mark Gamba. Liking the property, I expressed my interest and he led me to believe that it was a done deal. I turned in everything requested, followed-up and two days before move-in his secretary calls to say that 'other applicants' have already submitted a deposit. This is after I offered an advance deposit days prior. \r
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Clearly, Mr. Gamba and his company have only interest in getting their commission money, not their clients' best interest. \r
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Rather than being strung along for a week, I would have really appreciated their common decency of informing me of the property status, as they knew it wasn't going to me from the start.\r
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Overall, dealing with Abbolone and Scullin Realty was a real waste of time and an extreme stress. I advise everyone to go through another realty service and avoid getting the run-around.\r
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Enjoy sleeping at night, Mark. Knowing that you screwed over another loyal client and left them without a place to go with two nights to quickly find a new home. I also wish your company luck, as I'll be spreading awareness around the city of your poor business ethics and lack of consideration for your customers.
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When I signed my lease I was going through the Real Estate company called Volpe then in January my property got switched over to Abbolone and Scullin. I can honestly say this was such a great switch!
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As a happy tenant with Abbolone & Scullin, I find it upsetting that there were all of these negative reviews above. I've had 4 different landlords/management companies in Philly, and I found A&S to be by far the best.
Unlike all of the other management companies in Philly, Mark and the rest of the group at A&S made me feel like I was actually a customer. They treated me like I was worth something and that my business was important to them. This is in COMPLETE contrast to all of the other companies I've had contact with - not just the ones I actually rented from, but the some 15-20 companies that I have inquired with at various points. The rest of them treat you like you owe them something and like they should have no obligation to serve you. They treat you from start to finish like you're just scum renters that are going to destroy their properties and never pay the rent.
Mark Gamba is the main person I have come into contact with at A&S, and in my experience, none of the negative that I see written above applies to him. Here's a summary of my actual experience with him:
-When I applied to rent the apartment, he didn't hassle me for tons of money in deposits like other agencies do. He gave me very quick approval then gave me lots of time to get the appropriate deposits in.
-When I came to move in, A&S let me go in a couple days early to get started.
-A&S was immediately responsive to my request for extra keys.
-The deal on rent that I got was unbeatable. One of the best values for a high quality unit that I've encountered in Center City Philly.
-The apartment was in excellent condition, and the maintenance requests I did have were addressed quickly. Not only that - Mark and the others showed very genuine concern when I came to them with requests. Never once did they treat me like I was asking too much (unlike all other landlords, who have basically told me to get lost, even with the smallest requests).
-I turned in rent late a couple of times with absolutely no trouble, even though I probably deserved some.
-The rent didn't go way up my second year.
-When I had to move out before the end of the second year, I again was given no trouble. You'll never find another leasing agency that will work with you on this.
-Mark's got pretty much the best, sweetest dog in the world that he keeps around at all times.
So to all of you writing all this negative crap on here, try going to Philadelphia Management, or Philly Apartment Co, or University City Housing, Lease Philly, City Living Philly, or any of the other overbearing large agencies in Philadelphia, and then you'll see what a poor renting experience really is. Those people treat you like crap start to finish and suck every dime out of you that they can.
A&S might not be perfect, but they are in my opinion better than anyone else in this town.
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I never write reviews but I felt obligated to warn future renters after the severe distress, frustration, and financial losses that I've experienced with Abbolone & Scullin Realty. The entire staff is unprofessional and rude. The apartment that was ""sold"" to us was inaccurately promoted as a new finished rehab with central ac. Upon move-in the apartment was not finished, most appliances weren?t installed, and there was no central ac. Furthermore, the walls were only primed and never painted. My first few weeks in the apartment were spent hounding the company to install the missing appliances and supply some form (window units because they refused to finish hooking up the central ac) of ac (the situation was made worse in that we moved in during a heat wave and had to keep our pets at a friend?s house to protect them from the heat). We never succeeded in getting them to paint amongst these issues because the owner refused to work with us. The owner, an ex-lawyer, was uncooperative and frequently threatened us with his knowledge of the law. After negotiating and making an earlier move-out than the original lease, we were hit with large sums of fees out of our deposit that I can only reason were spiteful fees from the landlord for leaving the lease early. At this point, we would have had to go to court to recover that money because dealing with these unreasonable people was futile. This was by far the worst renting situation that I have ever experienced.
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I agree with and can attest to all of the negative things reviewers have said about this company. These people are the WORST, especially the alleged owner, who is actually just a washed up lawyer that clearly couldn't make it in the legal field. I would avoid renting from them at all costs. My apartment had a roach infestation and my complaints about it were met with complete indifference. The problem was so bad that I had to move out 8 and a half months early. The owner also screamed at me when I put in my notice to vacate because the infestation was so out of control. Real professional, right? I hope that I'm saving you some trouble by warning you to stay away!
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If you have any options, work with another company - it should be telling that the alleged owner had to come on here and write a review. And it's the only one with anything good to say. These people are unresponsive except when it comes to nickel and diming their customers for everything they can get. If citysearch had a Worst of Philadelphia they'd win every year.
Pros: Can access the internet
Cons: unhelpful, unprofessional and vindictive
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I am greatly distressed to read negative reviews about my company. However, with over 4,000 past and present tenants since I've owned Abbolone & Scullin, I am pleased to see so few.
Pros: Honest and Committed
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I live at one of the Abbolone and Scullin properties on Christian Street. Moving from AZ I had to choose the place without seeing it first. Bad move. The apartment itself was oddly designed and felt like a cage, but that's not the management's fault. What is the managements fault is that the walls were in terrible condition, all the windows were drafty, and most couldn't lock properly the front entry door's hinge broke and was never fixed, we had no working mailbox so everyone's mail was just shoved under the door and mixed (so everyone can see what you got in the mail that day!). Beyond that, there was an absolut inf*station of mic*. There could not have been any pest control in the basement, and when I complained about a mous* stuck in my wall, they hired a shotty, grungy pest controler to drop ""lethal pellets"" around my home. Needless to say, I found dead mic*, smelled a few more that I couldn't find, and continued to be inf*sted weeks after. Great job! Apparently the owner of this place is a senior member of the housing burearu of Philly. Does anyone know the condition she leaves her properties in!?
Pros: Location, sans the drugg dealers on Cathrine...
Cons: EVERYTHING but the proximity to center city.
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